Cherry tree named &#39;Sweet Valina&#39;

ABSTRACT

Prunus avium  PA4UNIBO ‘Sweet Valina’ is a novel cherry tree derived from a seedling of unknown cross which was planted at Vignola, Modena Province, Italy. It was initially propagated by grafting to root stocks of varying vigor and, after testing in districts and plantings of differing types, proved to have the qualities proper to a promising new cultivar for the market.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of pending EU Plant Patent for ‘SweetValina’, which was filed on 25 May 2012 as Application No. 2012/1160 inthe name of Applicant (holder) Alma Mater Studiorum—Università degliStudi di Bologna, the entire contents of which are expresslyincorporated herein by reference. EU Trademark for ‘Sweet Valina’ wasreleased on 2 Jan. 2013 as Registration No. 011058609 of Applicant(holder) Alma Mater Studiorum—Università degli Studi di Bologna.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS/SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED (CULTIVAR)

Prunus avium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

PA4UNIBO

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Prunus avium PA4UNIBO is derived from seedling of unknown cross andoriginally called Selection DCA BO B5D23 which was planted at Vignola,Modena Province, Italy, in February 2002 and first cropped in 2004. Itwas initially propagated by grafting to root stocks of varying vigorand, after testing in districts and plantings of differing types, provedto have the properties proper to a promising new cultivar for themarket. It picks 18-20 days after ‘Burlat’ (0-2 days after ‘Bing’), atthe date of ‘Summit’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The parentage of the variety is unknown. The name of a comparisonvariety is ‘Summit’. Compared to ‘Summit’, PA4UNIBO has larger fruit offirmer flesh, more uniform ripening and higher sugar content. PA4UNIBOwas selected for its high qualities, including tree growth and yieldperformance, and fruit appearance and excellent taste-flavor properties.Its other most distinctive traits include mid-season, uniform ripeningand large, firm-fleshed fruit. The date of discovery/cross was in theyear 2000. The location of the discovery was Vignola, Modena Province,Italy. The date of the first asexual propagation was in 2008 in Vignola,Modena Province, Italy. PA4UNIBO was initially propagated on ‘Colt’ inthe trial fields of Bologna University to test its field and yieldperformance in a traditional orchard planting system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyas depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible in colorillustrations of this character.

FIG. 1 illustrates the detail of fully-open blossoms of PA4UNIBO.

FIG. 2 is the flower, full front, in profile and with separated petals,of PA4UNIBO.

FIG. 3 shows the leaf profile of PA4UNIBO. Two leaves have been detachedand one has been placed upper leaf surface side down to show the lowerleaf surface details.

FIG. 4 illustrates the details of a fruit cropping, including an examplemeasurement, of PA4UNIBO.

FIG. 5 shows the tree architecture of PA4UNIBO with width-spread andheight.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

-   General:    -   -   Age of described tree.—5 years, drapeau (flag) training            system.        -   Location of described tree.—Vignola, Modena Province, Italy.        -   Name of color chart used.—Royal Horticultural Society Colour            Chart.        -   Name of root stock.—‘Colt’.-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—High.        -   Height.—3.5-4 meters.        -   Spread.—3 meters.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-open.        -   Canopy density.—Medium.        -   Trunk diameter at specified height.—15-18 cm diameter, as            measured at about 5 cm above graft joint cm above graft            joint.        -   Trunk color.—Reddish (200D) with a few grayish flecks            (201A).        -   Bark texture.—Of average roughness.        -   Tendency toward alternate bearing.—No.        -   Winter hardiness.—Unknown; no winter cold damage found in            this Po Valley district.        -   Chilling requirement.—Unknown.-   Branch:    -   -   Length.—250-310 cm of main branches.        -   Diameter.—11-13 cm at basal part of main branches.        -   Crotch angle.—70-80° depending on training system.        -   Bark color.—Reddish (200D).        -   Bark texture.—Of average roughness.-   Current year shoot:    -   -   Length.—60-80 cm.        -   Color.—Reddish (200D) with uneven grayish overtone (201A).-   Winter hardiness:    -   -   USDA hardiness zone.—Unknown.        -   Chilling requirement.—Unknown.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Number per spur.—4-5, mostly 4.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—About 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Under 1 cm.        -   Color.—Redish perules (187C).-   Flowers:    -   -   Number per cluster.—Minimum of 10-maximum 16 per spur, 2-3            per bud. Abundant bloom.        -   Relative position of petals.—Slightly overlapping petals.        -   Diameter.—37-41 mm.        -   Depth.—17-20 mm, as measured from receptacle to maximum            petal aperture.        -   Is pollen produced?.—Yes.        -   Coloration of pollen.—Pale yellow (12A).-   Sepal:    -   -   Length.—5-7 mm.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Width.—About 5 mm.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Pointed.        -   Margin descriptors.—Regular margin.        -   Color — upper surface.—Green (139C).        -   Color — lower surface.—Green (139C).-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Circular.        -   Length.—17-19 mm.        -   Width.—15-17 mm.        -   Apex.—Slightly sunken.        -   Base.—Slightly pointed.        -   Margin.—Slightly undulated.        -   Color — upper surface: White (155B).        -   Color — lower surface: White (155B).-   Bloom:    -   -   Date of bud burst.—7-8 Apr. 2013.        -   Date of first bloom.—14 Apr. 2013.        -   Date of full bloom.—17 Apr. 2013.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—33-41 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.2-1.4 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143B).-   Pistil:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—18-21 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143C).-   Anthers:    -   -   Quantity.—27-30 of length from 5-15 mm usually positioned            slightly below top of the stigma; 4-5 anthers in each flower            are of the same length or slightly longer than the top of            the stigma. White filament (155D).        -   Size.—Under 1 mm diameter.        -   Color.—Orange-yellow (15A).-   Stigma:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—1.1-1.3 mm diameter.        -   Color.—Green (142A).-   Styles:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—14-15 mm length.        -   Color.—Pale white-green (142C) turning rosé (36C) toward end            of bloom.-   Ovary/ies:    -   -   Quantity.—1.        -   Size.—4-6 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143C).-   Leaves:    -   -   Length.—11.8-13.1 cm.        -   Width.—6.8-8.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex shape.—Pointed.        -   Base shape.—Pointed.        -   Margin.—Fine-toothed.        -   Color — upper surface.—Green (137A).        -   Color — lower surface.—Pale green (138A/138B) with central            yellow-green vein (152A/152B).-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—3.4-4.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Color.—Green-yellow (152A/152B) under and reddish upper            (183A).-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—Heart-shaped.        -   Diameter.—32-34 mm.        -   Height.—28-32 mm.        -   Weight.—12-14 grams, average weight.        -   Number per cluster.—8-12 per spur.        -   Skin color (include ground color and over color).—Bright red            (N186C) tending toward shiny purplish red (187A) at advanced            maturity.        -   Lenticels present? Density?.—Yes, medium.        -   Skin thickness.—Medium-thin.        -   Skin texture.—Medium.        -   Anthocyanin coloration present near skin?.—No.        -   Tenacity of flesh to stone.—Low.        -   Flesh color.—Rosé (52A).        -   Flesh texture.—Fine.        -   Juiciness.—High.        -   Juice analysis (brix, acidity, tss, etc.).—21.3° Brix and            13.9 g/l malic acid (2012 data).        -   Stone size.—Medium-large.        -   Stone shape.—Elliptical.        -   Stone color.—Pale brown (165D).-   Fruit stem:    -   -   Length.—38-42 mm.        -   Diameter.—Just over 1 mm.        -   Color.—Green (143B.-   Harvest:    -   -   Maturity date range.—18-20 days after ‘Burlat’ (0-2 days            after ‘Bing’).        -   Harvest date range (if different).—Same as above.

Because of the outstanding and unique horticultural characters of theclaimed plant, especially its long harvest period and large size, thischerry can be planted to extend the cultivar's season. Although this newvariety of cherry possesses the above-described characteristics, it isto be understood that variations and fluctuations may occur in themagnitude and qualities due to changes in growing and climateconditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning and pest control.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cherry tree as hereindescribed and illustrated.